Basic Course Alpine Hiking

Moderate
2 days
Focus on safety and navigation
First steps in alpine terrain
2 days of intensive training

Season:

June October

Departure Times

09:15OUTDOOR - Shop and Café Grindelwald

Requirements

Hiking experience
At least 6 hours of hiking with a backpack

Overview

Recommended for: Anyone looking for the mountain beyond the postcard.

Learn how to move safely in challenging terrain: navigation, surefootedness and more skills for your first alpine hikes.

Alpine hiking demands more than just fitness. Surefootedness, navigation, and proper planning are crucial for safe and enjoyable hikes. In this course, you learn to navigate with a map, tackle difficult terrain, and assess weather conditions. Two days full of practice and valuable tips from an experienced mountain guide.

Course details

Academy

Learning objectives

  • Assess terrain, weather, and personal abilities
  • Plan and undertake an alpine hike
  • Practice navigation with map, compass, and GPS
  • Learn skills for managing steep paths, snowfields, and exposed sections
  • Identify hazards on alpine hiking trails
  • Select and use the right equipment for alpine hikes
  • Understand and evaluate the hiking scale T1 to T6
  • Practice walking and scrambling skills in alpine terrain

Assessment methods

Progress is continuously assessed

The mountain guide provides feedback during the course, reflecting on areas where you can already act independently and where experience is still needed. This gives you a realistic assessment of your abilities for future tours.

Certification

Certificate: Basic Course Alpine Hiking

Upon completion of the two-day course, participants receive a certificate. This confirms successful participation in the basic course alpine hiking in Grindelwald, but is intended only as a keepsake and is not an official document.

Issued by:
Outdoor Switzerland AG

Itinerary

Meeting points
Day1
Day 1: Training Tour to Faulhorn 2,681 m a.s.l.
The day starts at the OUTDOOR Shop & Café in Grindelwald with an introduction to map reading and tour planning. After an equipment check, we take the cable car to Grindelwald First. From there, we continue on foot: initially on marked trails, then increasingly in more challenging terrain. Along the way, we look at walking and climbing techniques, interpreting weather, and how to safely manage steep sections. The hike to Faulhorn offers impressive views. Once at the top, we review what we have learned on the hut terrace.
Day2
Day 2: Training Tour to Reeti 2,757 m a.s.l.
After breakfast, we head onto less marked paths. The focus is on navigation in pathless terrain. How do you read the terrain? How do you plan safe routes? We practice crossing scree and snow fields. Along the way, the mountain guide explains important points about risk assessment. After descending from the summit, we reflect on what we've learned and discuss how to use our new skills on future alpine hikes.

Whats included

Guiding from a licenced mountain guide/ aspirant guide
Expenses of the mountain guide
Overnight stay(s) with half-board for the mountain guide
Hut reservation
Course Certificate

Not included

Costs for cable cars and travel expenses of the guest
Overnight stay(s) in bunk room with half-board for the guest
Snacks
Technical equipment
Costs for a taxi if needed (guests pay for the guide's share)

Pack list

Backpack 25-30 l

Warm, functional clothing
Rain jacket
Rain pants
Mountaineering or hiking pants
Sunhat
Gloves (ideally one thin and one thick pair)
Beanie or headband
Extra underwear and socks

Semi crampon compatible boots recommended

Accessory cord 4 m (min. 6 mm)
Hiking pole

Sunglasses (category 3 or 4)
Sunscreen lotion and lip balm (minimum factor 30, 50 better)
Thermos flask, drink bottle
Headlamp
Silk sleeping bag liner
Toiletries
GA or Half Fare Travelcard (if you have)
Earplugs (optional)
Camera and binoculars (optional)
Snacks

Weather info

General weather info

Weather can influence any tour, and a clear decision is often only possible on the day itself. We review conditions carefully and remain within our safety limits, and bad weather alone does not mean we have to stop.

Make sure we can reach you with current contact information in case your booking changes. Silence from us means your tour is still planned or the final call is not yet made. If we need to cancel, you can rebook, choose another activity, or get a full refund.

For detailed advice on how to prepare for (and enjoy!) bad weather days in Interlaken, check out our weather blog 

Meeting points

Meeting point

OUTDOOR - Shop and Café Grindelwald

Dorfstrasse 103, 3818 Grindelwald
DirectionsMore info
Meeting points
Activity location

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